Ford’s F-150 Sees a 29% Uptick in Fuel Economy for 2015

Ford’s weight regimen for the new 2015 F-150 pickup has apparently done what it was largely meant to do, because when the truck is spec’d out with the new 2.7 liter EcoBoost V6 and 4X2 wheel drive, its fuel economy is bumped by as much as 29%. That’s according to the formal EPA numbers that the company revealed to the public on Friday.

In the aforementioned trim, the F-150 will get 19 miles per gallon in the city, 26 miles per gallon on the highway, and 22 miles per gallon combined. That, Ford says, is enough to make it the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered midsize truck, but it’s worth noting that this assumes you’re not carrying payload or towing anything. Still, 26 miles per gallon on the highway with such an aerodynamically unfriendly vehicle is impressive.

Also released were the figures for the entire slate of powertrain options. The entry-level, naturally aspirated 3.5 liter V6 in the rear-wheel-drive F-150 is rated for 18 miles per gallon in the city, 25 miles per gallon on the highway, and 20 miles per gallon combined. Adding the four-wheel drive option causes those numbers to decline slightly, to 17, 23, and 19 respectively. Four-wheel drive causes the numbers for the 2.7 to drop to 18 city, 23 highway, and 20 combined. The 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 brings 17 city, 24 highway, and 20 combined to the table with rear-wheel drive or 17, 23, and 19 when four-wheel drive is engaged. Notably, this engine is the range-topping option for drivers looking for the most torque.

Lastly, the naturally aspirated 5.0 liter V8 is rated at 15 miles per gallon in the city, 22 miles per gallon on the highway, and 18 combined in the 4X2 setup, or 15, 21, and 17 with power being sent to all four wheels.

Though it bests the leading fuel economy that GM’s Chevrolet and GMC lines have to offer — as well as the aging Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra trucks by a wide margin — the F-150 will still have to contend with Ram’s 1500 EcoDiesel V6, a 3.0 liter unit that allows the pickup to manage 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway. The model was released earlier this year, and has been an important part behind Ram’s 22.9% surge in sales this year through October.

Ford was quick to point out its progress over the last several years, though, noting that city MPG’s have improved by 5 miles per gallon city, 7 miles per gallon highway, and 6 miles combined with the 2.7 liter EcoBoost when put next to a comparable to a 2008 F-150. It’s also seen horsepower increase by 77, torque by 81 pound-feet, towing increase by 1,200 pounds, and payload by 280 pounds.

“We set out to create the future of tough with the new F-150,” said Raj Nair, Ford’s group vice president for Global Product Development. “We are delivering with the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever – and now the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of any full-size gas-powered pickup in America.”